Page 46 of The Breeding Cave
Once I took a deep breath to re-center myself, I pressed my mouth to her burn to use my saliva to heal it. I wasn’t sure how I could heal her last time—outside of pack doctors, only mates could heal each other, and I had been cursed without a mate for the rest of my life—but I hoped if there was still a Goddess who watched over the beasts, she’d give me strength.
I drew my tongue across her burn. Once. Twice. A third time.
And nothing.
I tried again. Still nothing.
After trying again and still not healing her in the slightest, I pulled back. “Fuck.”
Part of me had been holding out hope that I could heal her, that Yeosin might really be my mate. My beast had surely thought so earlier at the cave. But the feelings I had for her were just … they were just about me needing to continue my bloodline.
She shifted in the bed, a strand of her hair falling into her face.
Yeah, that’s what it is. An innate need to continue my bloodline.
That didn’t change the fact that I needed to protect her with my life.
Once I finally accepted defeat, I pulled the blankets up to Yeosin’s shoulders, grabbed my phone, and walked out of the room to the kitchen, where Molly stood over the stove, nervously running her hands together.
I wasn’t the only one in that war who wore burns. She did too.
“Find a way to heal her,” I said to Molly.
“You weren’t able to?” Molly asked, eyes wide.
I gritted my teeth. “No.”
Her gaze dropped. “I thought for sure that you were mates …”
“I already told you that I can’t have a mate,” I said harshly.
She bowed her head. “I know, but you’re happier with her. I just … I thought …”
“I’m not happier with her,” I snarled. “I’m using her for pups, and that’s it.”
“Keep telling yourself th?—”
Before she could finish her sentence, I snapped my hand around her throat and slammed her against the nearest wall, my beast taking full control. When I realized what I had done, I immediately pulled away.
“I’m sorry,” I said to Molly. “That was my beast.”
“No, no,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken out of place.”
“I need her to mean nothing more than that,” I whispered, trying to convince myself.
This meant war with the Dragon Clan, and they already knew who Yeosin was. There was a huge chance that she wouldn’t make it out of this alive. And if she didn’t … I would have to find another mat—I mean, another woman to give me pups.
Yeosin had to mean nothing.
“I need to figure this out,” I said.
After running a hand through my hair, I stormed out of the penthouse and headed straight for the elevator with my phone pressed to my ear. It rang and rang and rang. I balled my hands into tight fists, almost bending the phone.
“Come on, Joseph,” I growled. “Answer.”
When the call went to voicemail, I slammed my finger on the End Call button and dialed Brent instead. I didn’t have time to wait around for Joseph to call me back. I didn’t know where he was, but it wasn’t like him to ignore my calls.
Nonetheless, we needed a plan.
